Combined rear view mirror and instrument



Jan. 31, 11933. J w 1,895,560

COMBINED REAR VIEW MIRROR AND INSTRUMENT Filed 001;. 23. 1929 Patented Jan. 31, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES B. WEIR, OF OAKWOOD HEIGHTS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD MIRROR COMPANY, INC., OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK COMBINED REAR VIEW MIRROR AND INSTRUMENT Application filed October 28, 1929. Serial No. 401,946.

This invention relates to a combined rear vision mirror and instrument for automobiles, airplanes, motor boats and other vehicles, and is shown as embodied in a rear vision mirror having a Watch or clock mounted at one side thereof and a side vision mirror mounted at the opposite side thereof although any instrument can be substituted for the side vision mirror and the watch or clock, such as two side vision mirrors, an oil viscosity gage, a thermometer, a compass, a barometer, or any other kind of instrument to which frequent reference is made.

This is a companion application to the application of Paul Bertell and William La Hodny for a rear view mirror assembly filed December 7, 1929, Ser. No. 412,482.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a rear vision mirror, carrying one or more of such instruments, which is strong and durable and is rigidly held so that it will not vibrate excessively in response to the vibration of the automobile, such vibrations distorting the image in the mirror or mirrors and also being liable to injure the working parts of any moving parts of the instrument or instruments carried by the rear vision mirror.

A further object is to provide a universal mounting for the instruments carried by the rear vision mirror which permits the said instruments to be conveniently swung into any position, within limits, relative to the rear vision mirror, the rear vision mirror also being mounted for universal movement on the windshield of the automobile. By this means the instruments can be swung to any position to suit the convenience or requirements of the driver or occupants, and, particularly when one of the instruments is a watch or clock, the back of the instrument is conveniently accessible for resetting, rewinding or the like.

Another aim is to provide such a universal mounting for comparatively heavy instruments supported adjacent the rear vision mirror which permits the instruments to be moved to any adjusted position by simply grasping the same and moving them, the universal mounting frictionally holding the instruments in the position to which they are moved.

Another aim is to provide such a mounting for the instruments supported adjacent the rear vision mirror which permits the instruments to be mounted close to the rear vision mirror and which is also neat, compact and attractive, both from the front of the assembly and also from the back thereof which is, of course, seen through the windshield.

A further purpose is to provide such a mounting for the auxiliary instruments which permit the instruments to be removed readily for repairs or for the substitution of I other instruments, and permits the assembly to be made up with any combination of instruments desired.

Another object is to provide a mounting which is particularly adapted for electric clocks or watches, the location and supporting of such clocks from the header bar permitting of the wiring to be carried to the watch or clock through the header bar and the location minimizing local magnetic deviation.

A further aim is to provide such an assembly in which indirect electric lighting can be embodied in the watch, clock or other instrument and which when the watch or clock is indirectly lighted it can be positioned so that the light will not blind or discommode the driver.

Another object is to provide a combined rear view mirror and one or more instruments which are arranged as a compact unit and always in the drivers normal range of vision so that he does not have to drop his eyes to the instrument board.

Another object is to provide such an assembly in which each unit can be supported by an independent ball and socket joint and supporting arm from the header bar of the windshield.

Another object is to provide an assembly in which, if desired, the side instruments can be supported directly from the header bar of the windshield and the rear vision mirror supported by suitable universal joints from the instruments.

Another object is to provide an assembly of a rear view mirror and two end instruments in which either end instrument can be removed, and the device sold as having a single instrument, without impairing the appearance of the assembly.

Another aim is to provide such an assembly which is of a balanced and pleasing appearance and lends itself to attractive color schemes, which is readily adjusted so as to be illuminated from any exterior source of light and which contains no wing nuts, screws or other adjustments which require manipulation in adjusting the rear vision mirror or its associated instruments.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a combined rear vision mirror, side vision mirror and watch or clock mounted in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof show- I ing parts of the same broken away to disclose the construction.

Figures 36 are vertical transverse sections taken on the correspondingly numbered lines on Fig. 2.

F Figure 7 is a section taken on line 7-7,

Similar reference numerals refer to like parts in each figure.

In its general organization this invention comprises a rear vision mirror and bracket which also carries one or more auxiliary instruments, these instruments, such as the left side view mirror and the watch or clock shown, being arranged at the ends of the mirror and each having a universal connection with the mirror or mirror bracket, so that they can be moved into any desired position with respect to the mirror. In the preferred form this universal mounting consists of a hinge having one leaf permanently secured to the instrument and the other pivotally secured to the bracket. the axes of the hinge and its pivotal mounting being at right angles to one another and suitable provision being made to insure the necessary friction at the pivotal joints. The invention is, hows ever, capable of wide applications and modifications and it will be understood that the form shown is purely an example of one method of practicing the same.

The assembly is shown as adapted .for mounting on the head bar of a windshield and consists of a central. comparatively wide rear vision mirror 10, a side vision mirror 11 arranged at the left side of the rear vision mirror 10 and arranged to command a view of cars passing the vehicle on that side and a watch or clock 12 mounted at the opposite side of the mirror. It is apparent, however, that any instruments can be substituted for either the side vision mirror 11 or the watch or clock 12, such as asaaseo a barometer, a thermometer, an oil or gasoline gage, a compass or the like.

The rear vision mirror 10 can be of any suitable form or shape and can either be of the silvercd type or can be made in the form of a colored non-glare mirror, such mirrors having suitable coatings or the like which absorb the greater part of the light thrown upon them and thereby reflect the image with reduced illumination without, however, distorting the image.

This rear vision mirror is carried b a metal back plate or holder which, as host shown in Figs. 2-5, consists of a flat metal plate 13 which extends substantially the full extent of the rear vision mirror 10 and is formed at its upper edge to provide outwardly projecting fingers or lips 14, these fingers engaging around the beveled edge 15 of the up er side of the mirror 10 and serving to hold that edge of the mirror.

To grasp the lower edge of the mirror 10 and also to force the mirror 10 into firm engagement with these fingers 14, a clamping member 16 is provided. This clamping member consists of a sheet metal plate which lies against the back of the metal mirror holder 13, as best shown in Fig. 5, and at its lower end is formed to provide an upturned finger 17 which engages the lower beveled edge of the mirror 10, as shown in Fig. 1. The upper end of this clamping member 16 is formed to provide a cup-shaped part 18 which has vertical parallel walls 19. The open side of this cup-shaped part 18 opens against the metal mirror holder 13 and the mirror holder'or plate at this place has a tongue 20 punched rearwardly therefrom and arranged in the cup-shaped part 18. This tongue is provided with a threaded opening which receives a screw 21, this screw extending through an opening provided in the bottom of the cup-shaped part 18 of the clamping member 16. In assembling this structure, the mirror plate 10 is first caught under the upper fingers 14 and the clamping member 16 is placed so that its finger 17 engages the bevel of the mirror 10 and its cupshaped part 18 arranged over the tongue 20 of the mirror holder 13. The screw 21 is then inserted in the opening in the cupshaped part 18 and upon being turned finds the threads in the tongue 20 and draws the clamping member 16 upwardly and thereby securely clamps the mirror 10 between the finger 17 and the fingers 14. This clamping member is quickly and readily applied, forms a reliable means for securing the mirror 10 to its plate and at the same time is neat in appearance both from the front and the back side of the mirror. It will also be noted that there is no tendency for the clamping member 16 to dig into the coating of the rear vision mirror 10 upon being tightened since it is arranged against the plate 13 instead of this coating. This is an objection to a number of commercial devices designed for this purpose.

The rear vision mirror and its associated instruments 11 and 12 are primarily supported by a ball and socket joint indicated generally at 22. This ball and socket connection can be of any suitable form and, as

best shown in Figs. 2 and3, the sheet metal mirror holder 13 is formed to provide a rear- F wardly projecting cup-shaped part 23 which is provided centrally with an opening.

Around this opening the'cup-shaped art 23 is formed to provide a spherical soc et 24. In this socket is fitted a ball 25, this ball 25 being held in this socket 24 by a clamping plate 26 also having aspherical socket 27- which receives the ball 25. The ball 25 is clamped between the sockets 24 and 27 by bolts 28 which draw the clamping plate 26 toward the rear wall of the cup-shaped part 23. The sheet metal walls formin the cupshaped part 23 and the elampin p ate 26 are sufficiently yielding so that the all 25, while firmly held can be manually moved about upon the application of manual pressure.

The ball 25 is provided with a stem 29 which projects rearwardly and is provided with a reduced threaded rear end. This reduced threaded rear end, as best shown in Fig. 3, extends through an opening provided in the lower end of a bracket arm 30, and is secured thereto by a cap nut 31. A lock washer 32 is preferably interposed between the cap nut 31 and the bracket arm. The upper end of the bracket arm can be made in any desired artistic configuration, and is shown: as rovided with screw holes 33 which permit it to be attachedto the head bar of the windshield of an automobile or other suitable part. This ball and socket support for the rear vision mirror rigidly supports the mirror against vibration and accidental displacementand at the same time permits the mirror to be turned to any desired position. At the same time the parts are substantially concealed so that the assembly as a whole presents a neat and finished appearance when viewed through the windshield of an automobile.

The ball and socket support is arranged at one end of the rear vision mirror and the op-.

posite end of the rear vision mirror is supported by a ste'adying rest which permits the required transverse and axial movement of .the rear vision mirror and also a leveling.

movement thereof and is preferably constructed as follows:

At this end the sheet metal supporting plate 13 for the mirror is formed to provide a rearwardly extending relatively long arm 34 which, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 7, is dished outwardly concentrically with the axis of the ball so as to form a spherical socket. This arm 34 is provided with a hole 35 and bears against the outer face of a similarly dished arm 36. This arm 36 is formed inte ally with a bracket arm 37 which brac I et arm is of the same configuration and secured to the windshield head bar in the same manner as the bracket arm 30. The dished arm 36 at the lower end of the bracket arm 37 is provided with a horizontal slot ,38 which is adapted to receive the shank of a bolt or pin 39. This bolt, as best shown in ig. 2 is provided with a head and extends through the hole 35 in the curved sheet metal arm 34 and through the slot 38 and at its inner threaded end carries a cylindrical threaded head or nut 40. Slidingly mounted on the fixed head of the bolt 39 is a presser shoe or follower 41 which is provided with a cylindrical part 42 receiving the fixed head of the bolt 39 and a rounded shoe which presses inwardly toward the outer face of the curved arm 34 and is provided with an opening through which the shank of the pivot bolt 39 extends. This follower or presser shoe 41 is urged toward the arm 34 by a helical compression spring 43 which is concealed within the follower 41 and is interposed between the fixed head of the bolt 39 and the follower 42 so as to urge the follower inwardly, and draw the bolt 39 and its removable head outwardly as best shown in Fig. 2. This compression of the bolt 39 frictionally holds the dished arm 34 of the mirror holder 13 firmly against its dished supporting arm 36 and forms a vibrationless rest at that end of the rear View mirror. At the same time .that end of the rear view mirror can be moved manually outward, with the ball 25 serving as an axis and the bolt 39 riding along the slot 38 against the frictionalresistance of the presser shoe 41. The sheet metal arm can also be turned around the bolt 39' as an axis so that the rear vision mirror can be adjusted to any desired angularity about this axis. It is, therefore, apparent that by the combination of the ball and socket support at one end of the rear vision mirror and the spring rest at the opposite end, .a firm and reliable mounting is provided for the rear vision mirror and at the same time the mirror can be moved to any desired position.

The hole 35 in the lon arm 34 is made sub- 1 .stantially larger than t 1e shank of the bolt 39 and the width of the slot 38 in the fixed arm 36 is also substantially wider than the diameter of the shank of the bolt 39. This is for the purpose of permitting the leveling of the rear vision mirror 10 after the bolt 39 has beenmoved along the slot '38 and the mirror turned to the desired angle about the bolt 39 and ball 25 as pivots. After such adjustment, if the rear vision mirror is not square with the rear window of the car, the over size of the hole 35 and the excess width of the slot 38 permits the right hand end of the rear vision mirror to be raised or lowered as may be required to level the mirror and square it up with the rear window of the can. It has been found that in most cars the proper longitudinal angle of the rear vision -mirror is approximately 12.5 degrees, and

that from this angle the-desired angularity does not vary more than 8 degrees. The present rear vision mirror mounting is therefore so designed that when the rear vision mirror is at a 1 2.5 degreelongitudinal angle to the windshield, the pivot bolt '39 is at the center of the slot 38, and that in moving the 'bolt 39 from'the center of the slot'to either exlimits ofadjustment for-the mirror.

tremity the angularity of the mirror is altered 8degrees, the mirror thereby having a range of movement of 16 degrees. By this means the mirror is adapted to allma'kes of cars without requiring the provision of excessive mirror assembly can also be supplied to the automobile manufacturer set at,12.5 degrees and little adjustment is necessary to bring it to the correct angle. 1

The clock or watch 12 isshown as supported.

at the right of the rear visionmfrror 1 0. This watch or clock can be of any usual orwell known construction and is shown as con-" tained in a casing composed of a back 44, a bezel 45 and a crystal 46. The clock or watch is shown as wound by a key 47 at its back and its hands-48 are set b the usual knurled setting piece 49. In ad ition the crystal 46 can carry an elapsed time indicator consisting of hands 50 which are carried by the .crystal and a knob 51 by which these hands are set over the regular hands of the watch or clock so that the time taken for a trip can be definitely ascertained.

The bezel is extended outwardly at one side to form the leaf 52 of a bin e, the knuckle 53 of this leaf extending aroun a pintle 54. The knuckles 55 of the other hinge leaf 56 are arranged at opposite ends of the knuckle 53 and r the knuckle 53 is held frictionally in place by the compression of the nuts 57 at the ends of the pintle 54, with or without friction washers.

This hinge permits the watch or clock to turn in a horizontal plane and to permit its movement in a vertical plane, the other hinge leaf 56 lies against the outside of the rearwardly projecting lon arm 34 of the mirror holder 13 and is provi ed with an opening 75 through which the pin or bolt 39 extends, as

bestshown in- F5 .2. It is therefore apparent that to SWlIlg the watch or clock 10 up or down, the watch or clock casing is grasped and the hinge leaf 56 moved about the bolt 39 until the desired adjustment is obtained. The bolt 39, being spring loaded, .holds it thereafter in this adjusted position until manually read'usted.

To'a'djust the position of the watch or clock 10 in a vertical plane it is only necessary to grasp the casing and swing it about the pintle Y 54 to the desired position. It will therefore i the bezel 45 as illustrated.

The

be observed that thewatch orclock is provided with a universal mounting and can be swung in any desired position. It can therefore be readilyrewound by'reversing its position, it can be swung down to be illuminated by the dash light and it can be moved to either face the driver or the passengers as may be desired. It can also be readily and completely removed for repairs by'either removing the pintle 54 or by removing the bolt 39.

It is apparent that the-construction is capable of various modifications such as forming the hinge leaf 52 integrally or secured to the back 44 0f the watch or clock instead of The sidevision mirror or other instrument 11 at the opposite end of the rear vision mirror 10 is preferably enclosed in a casing 58 which is formed to provide the leaf 59 and knuckle 60 of a hinge, this knuckle being mounted on a pintle 61, the form and arrangement of this hinge being thesame as that supporting the clock. The knuckles 62 of the other leaf'63 are held to the pintle 61 by nuts 64 and washers 65 in the same manner as the opposite hinge and the leaf 63 is arranged alongside a comparatively short I arm66 which extends rearwardly from the edge of the metal mirror holder. This leaf 63 and the short arm 66 are held together by a spring loaded bolt .67 about which the leaf 63 pivots and to increase the friction between this hinge leaf-63 and the arm 66, the opposing faces of both are preferably provided with radial corrugations as indicated at 68 or frictional "composition washers -(not shown) can beinterposed. The bolt 67 is provided with a cap nut 69 and its head slidingly fits into apresser' shoe 70. This shoe houses a helical compression spring 71 which surrounds the bolt 67 and is interposed between the head of the bolt and the bottom of the presser shoe 70 so that it urges the bolt 67 outwardly and the presser shoe 7 O'inwardly and compresses the hinge leaf 63 and the short arm 66.

The hole 76 in the arm 66, which hole 76 receives the shank of the bolt 67 is also made oversize, i. e. greater than the diameter of the shank of the bolt 67 to permit of leveling the side vision mirror 11- after it has been 1. rear vision mirror supported by one ball and socket joint or by any other means.

In order to provide more friction between the arms 34, 36 and 56, should this be desired, they can be corrugated at their opposing face s, or fiber washers (not shown) can be arranged between these arms to provide the necessary friction. As a whole this invention provldes a very simple and reliable means-for mounting auxiliary instruments adjacent the rear vision mirror of an automobile or the like in which the instruments are movable independently of the rear vision mirror in all directions and can beturned in any direction to suit changin conditions or to reset, rewind, or illuminate t e instrument or instruments.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a plate, means for supporting said plate for universal movement and including a part rigid with and movable with said plate and an instrument pivotally connected to said movable part of said supporting means and permitting universally adjustable movement of said instrument relative to said plate.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a plate, means for supporting said plate for universal movement and including a part rigid with and movable with said plate,

an instrument adjacent said plate and friction means for connecting said instrument to said movable part of said supporting means and permitting universal movement of said instrument relative to said plate.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a plate, an arm rigid with and projecting rearwardly from one end of said plate, an instrument arran ed adjacent said arm, a hinge between sai instrument and said arm, one leaf of said hinge being connected to said instrument and the other leaf being pivotally connected to said arm, the axes of said pivotal connection and said hinge being substantially perpendicular to one another.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a plate, said plate being formed to provi e a flat arm rigid with sald plate and projecting rearwardly from one end of said plate, an mstrument arranged adjacent said arm, a hinge having a vertical pintle and two vertical leaves connected by said pintle, one of said leaves being permanently connected to said instrument and the other being arranged against the flat outer face of said arm, and a pm extending through said last named leaf. and said arm and pivotally connecting the same.

5. A' device of the character described, comprising a plate, said plate being formed to provide a pair of rigid arms pro'ecting rearwardly from opposite ends of sai late an instrument arranged adjacent each 0? said arms, a pair of hinges, each having a vertical intle and two vertical leaves, one of said eaves being permanently connected to one signature.

JAMES B. WEIR. 

